"Musicians tend to get bored playing the same thing over and over, so I think it's natural to experiment." - Dimebag Darrell

Michael Arthur Tassoni is currently being featured in two galleries (Artpool gallery and The Artful Giraffe) and a local industrial based shop (Paperstreet Market), this Tampa Bay local artist, only started just last year but has sold almost 2 dozen pieces of his work. He was recently featured in the holiday shopping guide for the Tampa Bay Times for local artists. His lamps range from simple and small brownie cameras to two foot tall projectors to giant Polaroids and just about everything in-between. His favorite places to find the cameras he uses are flea markets, thrift stores and from people who have found his work and want to sell cameras (he’s always looking). He doesn’t always use cameras for lamps either, as he’s had more than ten years experience behind the lens and has won various awards for his photography.

Michael Arthur Tossoni | Social Media | Click Icons Below

"Don't be fooled by your emptiness, there's always room for hapiness." - Kaskade

Briana Sellers just graduated USF with her bachelors in public relations. She's really looking forward to traveling for the next couple of years, with Europe and Asia on her list to visit. If you love EDM & house music you're in luck because Briana is a huge music fan, she's traveled all the way to Vegas to see her favorite DJ's at the EDC music festival. "My favorite books is The Secret, I believe that we all choose our path in life," says Briana. She soon will be taking her test to become a personal trainer. "Fitness is absolutely my top priority, this last year has really taught me that I'm really passionate about fitness," says Briana. She is excited to compete in fitness shows next year and can't wait to put her hard work to the test!

Photo credit | Winghouse

Photo credit | Winghouse

Photo credit | Craig Huey

Photo credit | Craig Huey

Photo credit | Craig Huey

Briana Sellers | Social Media | Click Icons Below

Comedy Chronicles of The 'Unbreakable' CHUCK GLASS

Chuck talks about Taylor Swift & Rihanna

CLICK HERE to listen to CHUCK GLASS talk about Taylor Swift & Rihanna

Chuck talks dirty to food!

CLICK HERE to listen to CHUCK GLASS talk dirty to food.. nom nom nom

Chuck Glass | Social Media | Click Icons Below

Kidd Leow teamed up with Adam Levine from Maroon 5, Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic, the Far East Movement, The Cataracs & Ellie Goulding! 

Check out these mini mixes!

Adam Levine	Far East Movement	Ryan Tedder
CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!

The Cataracs	Ellie Goulding
CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!

93.3FLZ EXCLUSIVE!

Kidd Leow & Ellie Goulding team up for a mini mix for the fans!!

:: Getty :: 

Playlist

I need your love - Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding (Nicky Romero remix)

Anything could happen - Ellie Goulding (Dj Kue remix)

Summit - Ellie Goulding & Skrillex

Lights - Ellie Goulding (Bassnectar remix)

Starry Eyed - Ellie Goulding

:: Getty ::

Mini mix

Hosted by Ellie Goulding | Mixed by VJ Kidd Leow

CLICK HERE to listen to this EXCLUSIVE 93.3FLZ mini mix with Ellie Goulding & Kidd Leow!

CLICK HERE to listen to this EXCLUSIVE 93.3FLZ mini mix with Ellie Goulding & Kidd Leow!

CLICK HERE to listen to this EXCLUSIVE 93.3FLZ mini mix with Ellie Goulding & Kidd Leow!

:: Getty :: 

Check out Ellie Goulding on iTunes  CLICK HERE!

Ellie Goulding | Social Media | Click Icons Below

Kidd Leow teamed up with Adam Levine from Maroon 5, Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic, the Far East Movement, & The Cataracs. 

Check out these mini mixes!

Adam Levine	Far East Movement	Ryan Tedder	The Cataracs
CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE

Tony Finotti is born and raised right here in St Petersburg FL. He graduated from St. Pete Catholic High School in 2005 and moved immediately to Tallahassee to attend FSU. Graduated in 4 years with two degrees, one in Hospitality Administration and one in Business Management.

Photo credit | Jeremy Quellhorst

Tony knew he wanted to be in Hospitality his entire life. After graduating from FSU he started working at a fine dining restaurant in Tallahassee, A La Provence, where he began to learn more about the intricacies of bartending and proper service. After moving back to St. Pete to be closer to family and enjoy the beaches Tony began working at Mise En Place in Hyde Park. It was there that he really began to learn about drink making from Nate DeWitt. After working there for over a year he relocated to the other side of the bridge and began working at The Mandarin Hide. "I fell in love with their breadth of product and in-numerous selection of spirits," says Tony. 

Tony loves bartending because of the people he gets to work with and meet on a daily basis. "People from all walks of life come in for different reasons at any given point in the day." "Luckily at TMH we have a cocktail menu that was designed with everyone in mind. We have all sorts of concoctions ranging between Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Cognac, Bourbon, Scotch, and everything inbetween and outside of those categories, we have something for everyone to try," says Tony.

Photo credit | Jeremy Quellhorst

 If he has the time Tony especially likes to tailor make a drink specifically for one person. After finding out their likes and dislikes, past cocktail history, and trying to figure out what their looking for, he can usually come up with something pretty tasty on the spot. Whether that means creating something out of thin air, or introducing them to a classic cocktail that they're unfamiliar with Tony always want to leave someone with something they've never had before. "Don't get me wrong I love making a Gin and Tonic or a Whiskey and Coke, but I really love when someone steps outside of themselves and tries something that they never dreamed they would enjoy," says Tony. They have so many options behind the bar that we can alter the taste of almost anything. "There are so many different types of spirits that the novice drinker hasn't even heard of, it's really fun introducing people to those types of things," says Tony.

Jon Harrell and Tony Finotti at the Infinium Competition in 2012

Tony has entered three bartending competitions and won one, an Alibi Whiskey Competition in January of 2013. That was the last competition he was in. He has been featured in the Creative Loafing and The Tampa Bay Times.

After Winning the Alibi Competition in 2013

Photo credit | Chris Ritch

Tony Finotti | Social Media | Click Icons below

The Mandarin Hide | Social Media | Click Icons Below

 

Website: mandarinhide.com

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KL's 'Best Bartenders in Tampa Bay' series also check out

Scooby

CLICK HERE

Brand NEW Kidd Leow mix show up with play list!

CLICK HERE to get the NEW 3 hour mix show!

CLICK HERE to get the NEW 3 hour mix show!

CLICK HERE to get the NEW 3 hour mix show!

Kidd Leow | Social Media | Click Icons Below

Kidd Leow teamed up with Adam Levine from Maroon 5, Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic, the Far East Movement, & The Cataracs. 

Check out these mini mixes!

Adam Levine	Far East Movement	Ryan Tedder	The Cataracs
CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE!	CLICK HERE

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”- Bob Marley 

Jeriko Turnpike on iTunes CLICK HERE

Jeriko Turnpike is a well-oiled machine. These guys play all over The Tampa Bay Area with a passion that’s second to none. Whether as a duo or a full band with bassist,”Detroit” Dan Eisenheuser, they bring energy to every performance. They play over 250 shows a year with a website averaging over 25,000 hits a month and climbing quickly. I sat down with McLean and Chris (two high school friends by the way) and asked them about what’s going on with them.

Q: Jeriko Turnpike has a very eclectic sound. You must like a lot of different stuff?

A: Ya, were pretty much into everything. When you listen or see us, there are so many different influences in our playing. We're fans of Music.

Q: How long has Jeriko Turnpike been together?

A: The two of us have been playing together, off and on since we meet in High School. We have been playing in this version of Jeriko Turnpike since January 2006.

Q: You play a lot of shows. Do any of them stick out?

A:YA, there are a lot, but this past summer we were opened for Janes Addiction at Ruth Eckerd Hall. It was pretty cool.

Q: Chris, I heard that you completed in the Guitar Center Drum Off over the past 2 years, could you tell us about that?

A: Yes, it was pretty cool. Both years I had the honor of winning the Clearwater store and representing the area and Jeriko Turnpike. This year I made it to runner up in the country’s quarter finals. It was awesome how so many great Tampa Bay area drummers pitched in and helped me with ideas and support.

Q: Is it true that a lot of your shows are performed without a set list?

A: Yes, we like to play each show by ear. It totally depends on the venue, crowd, what we are feeling and other elements. Usually we will start more on the chill side to warm up and by the end of the show, were playing some pretty heavy crazy stuff.

Q: What’s next for the band?

A: We have been playing a lot of smaller venues in the Tampa Bay Area over the past few years. We are going to add to that and start booking a few bigger shows, festivals and are going to play a few shows out of town. Also we are going to start working on our next album, the follow up to our last release ”Back to The Start”. You can still buy it on iTunes and CD Baby.

“You can’t win until you’re not afraid to lose”- Jon Bon Jovi 

Jeriko Turnpike | Social Media | Click Icons Below

Website – JerikoTurnpike.com

"Don't make excuses, make photos" As told to me on my first assignment for the NY Post when I called and told them the subject of the photo lived in a gated community... I got the shot. - Luis Santana

Photo credit | Wayne Cathel 

I'm Luis Santana, a Tampa based photographer who has been published in publications worldwide since the age of 17. At 18 I became a volunteer firefighter and photographer for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue where I assisted and documented fires, crashes, technical rescues and natural disasters all over the state of Florida. I worked with the fire dept to document the devastation as well as help with the response and rescue by disaster teams. In addition to being a self taught photographer I am trained as a rescue diver, swift water rescue technician and EMT First Responder.

Performance photo of Slash at the Tampa Bay Times Forum

Photo credit | Luis Santana

I gave up a career path in Fire/EMS to pursue photography more seriously and began freelancing for local newspapers. After a few years of freelancing for various magazines and newspapers I was offered a job with the Times. For the past 7 years I've been working as a staff photojournalist for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times) covering primarily music and entertainment as well as breaking news.

Space Shuttle Discovery on it's final flight aboard a shuttle transport vehicle enroute to the Smithsonian Institute Museum in Washing D.C. 

Photo credit | Luis Santana

The Tampa BayTimes is Florida's largest newspaper and one of the largest newspapers in the country. Working for such a great publication allows me access to some of the biggest events including the Super Bowl, Republican National Convention, award shows, concerts, and one of my favorites.. NASA. I was fortunate to be able to photograph the last 5 Space Shuttle launches ever. I was also one of only a handful of journalists to actually go inside of Space Shuttle Discovery. That was probably one of the coolest things I have ever done so far in my career as a photojournalist. NASA has since retired the Space Shuttle fleet so there will never be another space shuttle launch ever in my lifetime as they have now been moved to museums across the country. I was very fortunate to photograph the historic final flight and landing of the last Space Shuttle ever. 

Hurricane Charley damage in Lake Wales

Photo credit | Luis Santana

In addition to my job as a newspaper photographer  I also freelance for various national and international publications and agencies such as People Magazine, NY Post, National Enquirer, The BBC, Daily Mail, Hip Hop Weekly, Ozone Magazine, XXL, and many many more. I cover news and celebrities for many of the most well known tabloid magazines and a regular contributor to TV programs such as TMZ, Extra and the The Insider. 

The cockpit of Space Shuttle Discovery. I was one of a handful of journalists who got to tour the inside of the shuttle before being sent to D.C.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

I've covered the Tampa music scene for over 10 years and as a trusted photographer I often gain exclusive all access to many radio station and national concerts giving fans a look behind the scenes of some of the biggest names in music. Concert photography is one of the more fun things I get to do at the newspaper. I mean I get to shoot some of the biggest names in music and photograph them! It doesn't get much better than that!

Photos I did for the National Enquirer years ago about Hulk Hogan and his pets.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

I am available for portraits and event coverage for local bands and musicians in the Tampa Bay area. You can contact me through my website luissantanaphoto.com/contact 

Aerial photo of a stunt plane pilot flying over St. Pete. I later flew in the stunt plane as it did dozens of loops, rolls and high G turns.... and almost threw up!

Photo credit | Luis Santana

10 Questions with Luis Santana

Q: When did you get started in photography
             A: I got started in photography when I was about 16 years old. I was a Fire Dept. Explorer which is kinda like Boy Scouts but it focused on the fire service and EMS. My friends at school never believed all of the cool training and stuff we got to do so I started taking photos to show them. I eventually met a newspaper photographer who told me that I could sell my photos of fires and car crashes to newspapers for money. I started freelancing for newspapers and the rest is history.

Throwback photo of Kim K and Reggie Bush in Tampa

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Kirstie Alley walking barefoot in Clearwater

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: What type of gear do you use?
             A: I use Canon gear. My typical setup for most jobs whether it be a concert or breaking news scene is a 17-40mm and a 70-200mm f2.8 and a flash. I also occasionally use a 85mm f1.8 for all around use and portraits. When shooting concerts from the soundboard I use a 300mmf2.8 or 400mmf2.8. I use primarily Lowepro bags and edit with Lightroom on a PC.

Gene Simmons of KISS

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Obama motorcade leaves Tampa

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
            A: LEARN YOUR CAMERA! A lot of times new photographers want to buy a DSLR camera and start shooting without ever learning the how and why of photography. Just because you kick ass on Instagram with your iPhone doesn't mean you are a photographer! I tell new photographers to learn the basics of light and photography especially the relationships between aperture, shutter and ISO first. Then learn what every feature and button on your camera does. Learn the buttons and the various modes of your camera so you can adapt and adjust to any lighting situation you come across. Especially if you plan to make this a career, you absolutely have to learn your craft. Experiment with your camera, take many many photos, digital is free so play with it and learn from your mistakes. Once you have the technical aspect of photography down the next step is to look at as many photos as you can. Study them, find out why they are interesting to you and what you like about that particular photograph and that will help you make better photos when a similar scenario presents itself in front of your lens.

NASA photo of the Space Shuttle leaving KSC. I was there!

Photo credit | Luis Santana

T-Pain portrait

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: What advice would you give to a photographer that wants to photograph concerts and shows?
             A: This is just my opinion based on seeing many new photographers ruin their chances at ever gaining access to shows again. First and foremost you must know how to use your camera. Get your practice shooting local shows and events in bars and clubs WITHOUT FLASH! This is a common mistake new concert photogs do. They practice in clubs and bars shooting local bands with flash. Pretty much every national artists and concert venue will not allow flash photography. So when you are used to shooting shows with a flash and then all of a sudden must shoot without a flash it creates problems for you. Once you are proficient in concert photography then you can approach a local newspaper or magazine and offer to shoot concerts for them on a freelance basis. Then you would request a media credential through the venue or tour management and shoot for a legitimate publication. Shooting for popular blogs can work but it is much more difficult to gain access just shooting for a stand alone website. Tour managers and venues seem to prefer actual publications such as newspapers and magazines over blogs. The last bit of advice I can give to a new concert photog is not to be "that guy" Don't show up to shows wanting to be backstage and get photos with artists or autographs. Don't take selfies infront of the stage or red carpet and don't ever let your ego get the best of you. No matter how cool you THINK you are there is someone way cooler than you and you will just look like a chump! When you meet a fellow photographer be friendly and strike up conversation, don't be too cool to socialize, and when you do be honest and don't brag. Us seasoned photogs can see right through your BS stories! haha 

Be friendly to everyone from the media rep at the venue and tour managers to the stage hands and security staff because you will never know who can help you out in the future. I have friends in all positions that I run into all the time and having that friendly relationship with them often times gets me that extra bit of access that I need. There are a few stage hands, stage managers, security staff and limo drivers that I have worked with for many years that always give me some good info. Many times these folks get over looked which I feel is a big mistake. Bottom line is be cool with everyone because you never know how they can help you in the future.

Space Shuttle Atlantis gets towed back to the hangar hours after landing. This was the last ever shuttle mission of NASA.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

SOCOM demo in Tampa

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: What is the coolest, nicest celeb you have worked with and why?
             A: I would have to say Pitbull. I have photographed him since before his first album before he was the big star he is now. I can honestly say that he is just as cool and accessible as back in the day. He is a great guy. Class act. Others in the cool dude category are John Travolta, Drake, T-Pain, Gene Simmons, Mario Andretti, Mario Lopez, Evan Longoria, Enrique Iglesias, Hulk Hogan, Paris Hilton, Will.I.Am, and Jordin Spark. I actually got to photograph Jordin for two days straight during the last Tampa Super Bowl. She was the biggest sweetheart you can meet. Totally cool. From eating breakfast at a Tampa Village Inn to signing random autographs and taking photos with fans she was awesome. I even introduced her into Twitter and even took her first ever profile pic! @JordinSparks

Secret Service agents stand by Air Force One moments after the president boarded the plane.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

I got a chance to photograph inside the Whitehouse. This was one of my favorite photos of the presidential limo parked in front of the Whitehouse during my visit.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: Who is the meanest, rudest celeb?

A: I have a few that come to mind! Ke$ha, Kirstie Alley, Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj,  2 Chainz and believe it or not... Justin Bieber. The last time I photographed him he was late to the meet and greet. He gave us photographers about 15 secs to photograph him. Then he said he was done and hid behind the photo backdrop while security escorted us out! He was very rude. It was a complete opposite when I photographed him after his first single. He was very friendly and even asked me to take photos of him with other artists that were backstage! It's pretty well known to us photogs that once the artist is up and coming access is great and they are super cool. Once they win a Grammy or get a #1 hit their ego goes through the roof and they turn on us haha! So no offense taken, it's something that goes with the job.

HCSO SWAT storm a trailer during a hostage situation in Gibsonton.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

HCSO SWAT

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: What concert was your favorite to shoot?
             A: It's really hard to say as everyone is fun but a few that come to mind was KISS and MGK. I wouldn't consider myself to be a KISS fan but after shooting their show and how they actually posed for us photographers during their performance was really really cool! They would actually point to one of us, pose and once we got the shot they would give us a thumbs up and move to the next photog. Really cool. The other artist that I like to shoot recently are ,MGK shows. Machine Gun Kelly is a character and every single time I have photographed him something wild happens! I've seen him climb lighting trusses, attempt  to breaking out windows at a hotel, hump random people, crowd surf and jump on top of a brand new Scion car that was on display on stage and put a huge dent in the roof!. The dude is wild! It's always a "what is he gonna do this time" when he comes to town.

HCSO SWAT transport a patient who held his wife hostage and shot at officers. The suspect was hit with bean bag grenades and was transported to the hospital.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Throwback photo of Paris Hilton and then boyfriend Benji Madden in St. Petersburg

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q:What concert or celeb would you want to shoot that you haven't already?
             A: I would say Jay-Z, Eminem, OutKast, and Dr. Dre

Brittney Spears tour photo

Photo credit | Luis Santana

FBI SWAT board an armored personnel carrier as they search for cop killer Dontae Morris in Tampa.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

Q: When you are not shooting photos what do you like to do?
             A: When I'm not shooting photos I like to shoot guns!
 But I actually prefer spending time with my wife and 3 kids, and flying RC airplanes... you know nerd stuff.

Behind the scenes photo of Victory Circle as Dario Franchitti wins the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

3-alarm apartment fire in Brandon

Photo credit | Luis Santana

On the launch pad with Space Shuttle Atlantis hours before the final mission of the United States Space Shuttle Program. This photo is memorable for me because this scene will never be seen ever as this was the last time a Space Shuttle was ever launched from the Kennedy Space Center.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

This is also a meaningful photo to me as this was the last launch of a US Space Shuttle. A truly historic set a photos I am grateful to have been able to take.

Photo credit | Luis Santana

'Behind the Lens' with Luis Santana

Photo credit | Jonathan Ridgely

Luis Santana | Social Media | Click Icons Below

Website: LuisSantanaPhoto.com
Blog: LuisSantanaPhoto.com/blog

'At Sunset last year, I was wearing a GoPro head mount as I photographed the crowd. Pretty cool perspective' - Luis Santana

"Femininity appears to be one of those qualities that is so important no one can define it."

Tayler May is originally from Maui, Hawaii and has lived in the Tampa Bay Area for going on 8 years. She enjoys being a mother to her son and hanging out with her friends. One of Tayler's favorite things to do is express her feelings through the art of a picture. "I could shoot for days, it's almost like therapy. Some of my best work is made while I'm going through something stressful because I can express it through the art of a picture." Tayler first began promoting herself through local calendars though out Florida, including the upcoming Florida Girls 2014 Calendar. Soon after she was published as being the Cover Girl for May 2013 as well as having a full spread for the nationally known online magazine, Strobe. You may have also seen her as Honey of the Month for March 2013 listed on belowthebeltshow.com. "I only strive for the best and I won't stop until I've done it all." Tayler has greatly enjoyed all the experiences and people she has been blessed in working with.

Photo credit | Justin Price

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really start to look fear in the face. We must do that which we think we cannot." -Eleanor Roosevelt   

Photo credit | Justin Price

Give us five words that think best describe you. 

Bold, adventurous, opinionated, outgoing, & strong-willed.

Photo credit | DEmO Photography 

Q: How would you describe your personality?
A: I'm a huge people person. I keep my guard up, yet I wear my heart on my sleeve. I've been called a "guys gal" for years and only have a few close girlfriends. I'm just down for a good time.

Photo credit | Justin Price

Q: How and when did you start modeling?
A: Two years ago. I started doing it as more of a hobby and to build a portfolio for myself. Soon after and way quicker than expected, my modeling career flourished and is continuously expanding.

Photo credit | DEmO Photography 

Q: In your opinion, what's the most important trait for a model to have in order to be successful? 
A: Confidence! Love yourself!

Photo credit | DEmO Photography 

Q: What is your favorite style of photo to take?
A: I love natural light, outdoors. I refuse to "duplicate" an image that has already been created. I get a "high" out of creating an idea that nobody would expect me to come up with. I guess you could call me a little "unpredictable." :)

Photo credit | Jwill Photo

Q: Any parting words for our readers and your fans?

Photo credit | DEmO Photography 

Tayler May | Social Media | Click Icon Below